Types of Crushers Used in Oil Sands in the United States
Oil sands are a type of unconventional petroleum deposit found in Canada, the United States, and Venezuela. They are a complex mixture of sand, clay, water, and bitumen. The bitumen must be extracted from the sand before it can be processed into oil.
Crushing is an essential part of the oil sands extraction process. Crushers are used to reduce the size of the sand and clay so that the bitumen can be more easily extracted.

There are a variety of crushers used in oil sands operations in the United States. The most common types of crushers include:
- Jaw crushers: Jaw crusher are the simplest and most versatile type of crusher. They work by squeezing the material between two jaws. Jaw crushers are typically used for primary crushing, which is the first stage of crushing in the oil sands extraction process.
- Impact crushers: Impact crusher work by breaking the material by impact. Impact crushers are typically used for secondary crushing, which is the second stage of crushing in the oil sands extraction process.
- Roller crushers: Roller crushers work by crushing the material between two rotating rollers. Roller crushers are typically used for tertiary crushing, which is the third and final stage of crushing in the oil sands extraction process.
The type of crusher used in an oil sands operation depends on a number of factors, including the size of the material to be crushed, the desired size of the crushed product, and the cost of the crusher.
Jaw crushers are typically the most economical type of crusher for primary crushing. They are also relatively easy to maintain. However, jaw crushers are not as efficient as other types of crushers for secondary or tertiary crushing.
Impact crushers are more efficient than jaw crushers for secondary and tertiary crushing. They can also produce a more uniform product size. However, impact crushers are more expensive than jaw crushers and can be more difficult to maintain.
Roller crushers are the most efficient type of crusher for tertiary crushing. They can produce a very uniform product size. However, roller crushers are the most expensive type of crusher and can be difficult to maintain.
The oil sands extraction industry in the United States is growing rapidly. As the industry grows, the demand for crushers is also growing. Crusher manufacturers are developing new technologies to improve the efficiency and performance of crushers for oil sands applications.